Jesus and his disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane, which is an olive grove on the Mount of Olives, immediately after they have celebrated the Last Supper. The Mount of Olives is a hill a short walk from Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley.

Jesus prays in the garden. It seems that he is genuinely terrified by death: the passage is sometimes called ‘the agony’ of Jesus. In the saying of the Rosary, ‘The Agony in the Garden’ is the first of the Sorrowful Mysteries. This time of prayer is also remembered after the Mass of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, when a ‘Watch of Prayer’ is kept in Churches, usually before a special altar decorated like a garden. People pray in front of the altar until midnight, as if they were disciples praying in the garden with him.

He is truly alone. In his prayers he uses the word ‘Abba’ for God. The word means ‘Dear Father’ and is a word a child would use for his father: it is a bit like saying ‘Daddy’. The first Christians used this word in their worship, but the Jews usually did not, because it was too informal.

Jesus asks for the ‘cup’ to be taken from him. Drinking a cup is a symbol for sharing in suffering. Jesus uses the same phrase when James and John approach him asking for seats in his kingdom.

Three times Jesus prayed and three times the disciples fell asleep: even though they had said that they would die for him! When Jesus approached them, they didn’t know what to say to him (verse 40).

The arrest (14:43-50)

Judas brings a gang of men with him to Jesus. They are probably temple guards, sent by the Sanhedrin. it is unlikely that the Roman soldiers get involved yet. It is dark, so Judas identifies Jesus with a kiss. This was the way in which a disciple would normally greet a teacher. It is meant to be a sign of respect and loyalty. Judas makes it a sign of treachery.

Jesus does not allow his follows to fight. He is not a Zealot. He stops the scuffle. The disciples lose all their courage and run away. In Mark’s account, the only disciples to see Jesus again before his resurrection are the women.

The detail of the young man is a strange one. Some have suggested that he is an eyewitness to what happened, or even Mark himself.

1. What and where is Gethsemane?
2. Who did Jesus take with him when he went to pray?
3. What did Jesus call God in his prayer?
4. What did Jesus ask God to do?
5. What were the disciples doing while Jesus was praying?
6. How many times did Jesus find them like this?
7. Who did Judas arrive with?
8. What sign did Judas give to identify Jesus to the crowd?
9. Who attacked whom?
10. Who ran away naked?

11. When, and in what ways, is the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane remembered by the Church?
12. What is the meaning of the name which Jesus uses for God when he prays in the Garden?
13. A young man is mentioned in 14:51-52. Who might he be?
14. What sort of picture of Jesus is given in the description of his prayer in the Garden?
15. What sort of person does Jesus appear to be in the way he reacts to his arrest?

16. Do one of the following activities.

1. Imagine you are one of the disciples. Write a diary entry describing the events of the evening and your feelings.

or

2. You are asked to lead a meditation for the saying of the Rosary. Write what you would say for mystery of the Agony in the Garden.

or

3. Write a poem describing the feelings of Jesus during these events.

17. When Mark recorded the story of Gethsemane, we know he believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. What kind of Son of God does Mark seem believe Jesus to be? Take into account the way Jesus prays and what happens when he was arrested. What is surprising about this picture?
18. Should Jesus have encouraged his followers to fight? Give reasons for your answer?
19. The early Christians were often persecuted for their belief in Jesus. Do you think this story would have been any help or encouragement to them? Do you think it is any encouragement to Christians today? Give reasons for your answer.

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